Pipeline roller coaster
Encyclopedia
The Pipeline Coaster was a roller coaster
developed by Japanese ride company TOGO
. Pipeline roller coasters position riders between the rails, rather than above or below. TOGO was the first and only company to produce this type of roller coaster successfully. Although Utah
's Arrow Dynamics
and Switzerland
's Intamin AG
developed these types of coasters as well, they didn't catch on. Some of the drawbacks of these coasters included the need for large, uncomfortable over-the-shoulder restraints as well as poor wheel-to-track construction. Only five pipeline coasters operate today.
developed the first Pipeline coaster and the first recorded Ultratwister coaster built was in 1985 at LaQua amusement park in Tokyo
, Japan
called Ultra Twister
. The ride became somewhat popular in Japanese parks, and one year after the first was built, Six Flags
purchased one of these coasters for their Six Flags Great Adventure
theme park, where it resided until 1990 when it was moved to Six Flags Astroworld
until the park closed in 2005. This coaster would remain the only pipeline coaster in America. The American Ultratwister
still exists, however it awaits possible future assembly at Six Flags America
.
TOGO's model would be the only somewhat successful design. Six of these were made and were successful in small parks due to its small footprint. The ride inverts riders three times through three Heartline Roll elements and utilizes a special near-vertical lift hill. The lift hill would be prone to down time for maintenance and the Ultra Twister owned by Six Flags had its lift hill modified by Premier Rides
to a less steep angle when it was moved to Six Flags Astroworld.
Throughout the early 1990s, Arrow Dynamics
attempted to develop a pipeline roller coaster. Only one of these was built as a prototype at Arrow's facility in Utah. Plans for the coaster were scrapped altogether due to roughness and other factors. However, one was partially built at Alton Towers
in the United Kingdom
. In the early 1990s, John Wardley twice attempted to build one of these at the park. The second attempt was partially built, but then scrapped for the coaster Nemesis. The coaster was not completely finished due to Arrow's finance problems.
In the mid 1990s, Intamin AG
built a spiral roller coaster in South Korea
. Not much is known about the design, but only one of these coasters were built. The only Spiral Coaster ever built is located in Kuwait
, but it has been closed for several years and is considered unlikely to operate again.
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
developed by Japanese ride company TOGO
TOGO
TOGO was a Japanese roller coaster design company, famous for inventing the stand-up roller coaster. TOGO went bankrupt in the early 2000s due to a lawsuit by Knott's Berry Farm for problems with their Windjammer roller coaster. TOGO is also credited with creating the first working pipeline roller...
. Pipeline roller coasters position riders between the rails, rather than above or below. TOGO was the first and only company to produce this type of roller coaster successfully. Although Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
's Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
's Intamin AG
Intamin AG
Intamin Worldwide is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The U.S. division of the company is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and is headed by Sandor Kernacs. The Intamin brand name is an...
developed these types of coasters as well, they didn't catch on. Some of the drawbacks of these coasters included the need for large, uncomfortable over-the-shoulder restraints as well as poor wheel-to-track construction. Only five pipeline coasters operate today.
History
TOGOTOGO
TOGO was a Japanese roller coaster design company, famous for inventing the stand-up roller coaster. TOGO went bankrupt in the early 2000s due to a lawsuit by Knott's Berry Farm for problems with their Windjammer roller coaster. TOGO is also credited with creating the first working pipeline roller...
developed the first Pipeline coaster and the first recorded Ultratwister coaster built was in 1985 at LaQua amusement park in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
called Ultra Twister
Ultra Twister
Ultra Twister was a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure from 1986 to 1990 and then at Six Flags AstroWorld from 1991 until that park was closed and demolished by the Six Flags Corporation in 2005...
. The ride became somewhat popular in Japanese parks, and one year after the first was built, Six Flags
Six Flags
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the fifth most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 14 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family...
purchased one of these coasters for their Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
theme park, where it resided until 1990 when it was moved to Six Flags Astroworld
Six Flags Astroworld
AstroWorld was a seasonally operated theme park located on approximately of land between Kirby Drive and Fannin Avenue, directly south of Loop 610 in Houston, Texas, USA...
until the park closed in 2005. This coaster would remain the only pipeline coaster in America. The American Ultratwister
Ultra Twister
Ultra Twister was a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure from 1986 to 1990 and then at Six Flags AstroWorld from 1991 until that park was closed and demolished by the Six Flags Corporation in 2005...
still exists, however it awaits possible future assembly at Six Flags America
Six Flags America
Six Flags America is a family theme park and water park located in Mitchellville, Prince George's County, Maryland. It is situated east of Washington D.C. and southwest of Baltimore. The park covers , 131 of which is currently used for park operations...
.
TOGO's model would be the only somewhat successful design. Six of these were made and were successful in small parks due to its small footprint. The ride inverts riders three times through three Heartline Roll elements and utilizes a special near-vertical lift hill. The lift hill would be prone to down time for maintenance and the Ultra Twister owned by Six Flags had its lift hill modified by Premier Rides
Premier Rides
Premier Rides is an amusement ride manufacturer based in the United States. The company was the first to use Linear Induction Motors on their roller coasters. Jim Seay has been the sole owner and company president since 1996....
to a less steep angle when it was moved to Six Flags Astroworld.
Throughout the early 1990s, Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of...
attempted to develop a pipeline roller coaster. Only one of these was built as a prototype at Arrow's facility in Utah. Plans for the coaster were scrapped altogether due to roughness and other factors. However, one was partially built at Alton Towers
Alton Towers
Alton Towers is a theme park and resort located in Staffordshire, England. It attracts around 2.7 million visitors per year making it the most visited theme park in the United Kingdom. Alton Towers is also the 9th most visited theme park in Europe...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In the early 1990s, John Wardley twice attempted to build one of these at the park. The second attempt was partially built, but then scrapped for the coaster Nemesis. The coaster was not completely finished due to Arrow's finance problems.
In the mid 1990s, Intamin AG
Intamin AG
Intamin Worldwide is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The U.S. division of the company is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and is headed by Sandor Kernacs. The Intamin brand name is an...
built a spiral roller coaster in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. Not much is known about the design, but only one of these coasters were built. The only Spiral Coaster ever built is located in Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, but it has been closed for several years and is considered unlikely to operate again.
Installations
| Coaster | Park | Manufacturer | Opened | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Megaton | Mitsui Greenland | TOGO | 1994 | Operating |
| Spiral Coaster Formerly Sky Plaza Comet |
Al-Sha'ab Leisure Park Sky Plaza |
Intamin AG |
2000 1996 |
SBNO Closed 1999 |
| Ultra Coaster Formerly Ultra Twister |
Marah Land Sabahiya Mt.Ikoma Amusement Park |
TOGO |
2008 Unknown |
Operating Closed 2005-2006 |
| Unknown Formerly Ultra Twister Formerly Ultra Twister |
Six Flags America Six Flags America Six Flags America is a family theme park and water park located in Mitchellville, Prince George's County, Maryland. It is situated east of Washington D.C. and southwest of Baltimore. The park covers , 131 of which is currently used for park operations... Six Flags AstroWorld Six Flags Astroworld AstroWorld was a seasonally operated theme park located on approximately of land between Kirby Drive and Fannin Avenue, directly south of Loop 610 in Houston, Texas, USA... Six Flags Great Adventure Six Flags Great Adventure Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation... |
TOGO |
N/A 1990 1986 |
In Storage Closed 2005 Closed 1988 |
| Ultra Twister | Washuzan Highland | TOGO | 1991 | Operating |
| Ultra Twister | Nagashima Spa Land Nagashima Spa Land is a major amusement park in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, Japan. It features several roller coasters, a giant Ferris wheel, and a water park.-Roller coasters:*Children Coaster*Corkscrew*Jet Coaster*Looping Star*Shuttle Loop*Steel Dragon 2000*Ultra Twister... |
TOGO | Unknown | Operating |
| Ultra Twister | Rusutsu Resort Rusutsu Resort The is the largest resort in Hokkaidō, Japan, operated by Kamori Kankō. The resort is mostly famous for its ski slopes, but it also has an amusement park, golf courses and others.-Ski resort:... |
TOGO | 1994 | Operating |
| Ultra Twister | Tokyo Dome City Tokyo Dome City Tokyo Dome City is an entertainment complex in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.It includes the world's largest roofed baseball stadium known as Tokyo Dome , an amusement park known as Tokyo Dome City Attractions , and Korakuen Hall... |
TOGO | 1985 | Defunct |